Notices to govt, top cop on appeal by Northeast student

The Karnataka High Court on Friday ordered notices to the government and commissioner of police in a petition filed by a Northeastern student seeking speedy and effective investigation into an FIR filed by him.

Higio Gungtey, a native of Arunachal Pradesh and a resident of Bengaluru, had filed a plaint stating that he was verbally abused by Hemanth Kumar, his landlord. According to the plaint, Kumar used expletives against him over phone for excessive use of water by him and his flat-mates. Minutes after the call, the owner came to the house and dragged out one of his friends.

The owner mercilessly abused Higio, kicked him repeatedly in the stomach and face and made him lick his shoes. He was abused as a “dirty tribal’’ from the Northeast and threatened with rape of his sister and mother.

The petitioner has been racially attacked in Bengaluru over the past few years and the police have failed to take action to prevent attacks on them. The petitioner contended that he has been kept in the dark over the FIR being filed against his house owner. Higio has sought a detailed report along with material of the investigation being conducted by the police.  Justice A S Bopanna also ordered notice to house owner Hemanth Kumar.